Abstract
A water soluble polysaccharide composed of D-galactose, D-mannose and D-xylose in
a molar ratio 3:6:2 was isolated from the seeds of C. siamea. Hydrolysis of the methylated polysaccharide furnished five methylated sugars: (I)
2, 3 di-O-methyl D-xylose (II) 2, 3 di-0-methyl D-mannose (111)2, 3, 4-tri-0-methyl
D-galactose (IV) 2, 3, 6-tri-0-methyl D-mannose (V) 2, 3, 4, 6-tetra-0-methyl D-galactose
in the molar ratio 4:4:2:8:4, while partial acidic hydrolysis yielded five oligosaccharides:
(I) Epimelibiose (II) Mannobiose (III) Mannotriose (IV) Mannosylgalactobiose (V) Xylotetraose.
A most tenable structure for the polysaccharide has been suggested.
Key Word Index
Cassia siamea - Polysaccharide - Oligosaccharides.
